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Re: Fumagillin - Dead Bees

why use it??
it isn't effective and can have detrimental effects on the bees if used in the wrong concentration.

Possible synergic effects between pesticides and N. ceranae were previously reported [46], [47], [48], and we found that effects of fumagillin were surprisingly similar and possibly stronger than the pesticides tested when it degraded to low levels. In contrast to pesticide exposure during honey bee foraging, fumagillin is applied to the hive directly by bee keepers to treat nosemosis. We have not investigated whether fumagillin usage has consequences for infection by other pathogens, but it is clear that the unintended consequence of its use could be exacerbation of N. ceranae pathogenesis. Fumagillin treatment is known to reduce microsporidian reproduction and is probably useful for protecting weak colonies [2], but the antibiotic may have unintended effects on the honey bee host, ultimately contributing to increased prevalence and pathogenicity of N. ceranae. Many variables could affect fumagillin concentration in hives post-treatment, including hive size, nectar flow and other factors. Current fumagillin application involves a treatment gap of 6 months or more and almost guarantees that the antibiotic will degrade to concentrations that allow release of the microsporidia and result in fast recovery of N. ceranae [2], [8]. In addition, the time period of N. ceranae hyperproliferation may reverse the benefits gained at the beginning of fumagillin treatment, resulting in indistinguishable performance between fumagillin treated and untreated hives [9]. Although field studies are necessary to determine if fumagillin use has value in specific situations, it is clear that new treatments for nosema disease are needed. Identification and development of drugs that will target the microsporidia without serious impacts on host physiology are critical for control of nosemosis.

seems to do more harm than good.
thymol in syrup feed works well for nosema and doesn't kill the bees.